Night in the lower district always felt heavier than in other parts of the city. The air was thick with the scent of metal, cheap cigarettes, and dampness seeping from the old walls. Dim streetlights hung askew from rusty poles, casting a pale glow that made the narrow alleys appear endless.
Kael walked through one of those alleys with a calm stride. His body bore remnants of fatigue from recent fights. Old scars had not fully healed, and new ones had already formed. In a district like this, a bruised body was commonplace. No one truly cared.
He paid no mind to the glances directed his way. His thoughts were preoccupied with an unsettling pressure in his chest that had been surfacing more frequently. This sensation was strong enough to make him aware that something was amiss within him.
